Atomizer



April 17,1945. 'I E. H. PEABODY ATOMIZER Filed Aug. 19, 1941 n Patented Apr. 17, 19475` i ATOMJZER Ernest H. Peabody, Norwalk, Conn., assignor'to Y Peabody Engineering Corporatlom-'New York, Y N. Y., a corporation of New York` Application August 19, 1941, Serial No.v 407,388

9 Claims. (Cl. 299-120) This invention relates to mechanical atomizers of the wide range variable return type and more particularly to mechanical atomizers of the type having a, whirlingchamber in which a fluid to be vatomized is given a rapid whirling motion as it advances to a discharge orice, whereby centrifugal force is built up which serves to atomize the fluid as it is discharged in a cone shaped spray. A wide range of capacities is obtained by withdrawing a controlled portion of the fluid from the whirling chamber before it reaches the discharge orifice.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved method and means for withdrawing the return fluid from the whirling chamber.

Another object is to provide an atomizer construction in which the energy of the rotating uid in the whirling chamber is not dissipated by producing rotational movement in the return conduit.

Another object is to provide an atomizer of,` the above type having a central return duct fro'm the whirling chamber, constructed and arranged to prevent the rotation of the fluid in the whirling chamber from Abeing transmitted through the return duct to the fluid in the return conduit.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved atomizer of the above type which may be readily assembled and dis-assembled.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed. Y

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are pointed out more particularly in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself will be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which certain specific embodiments thereif have been set forth for purposes of illustraion.

In .the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a transverse section of an atomizer tip embodying the present invention and taken along the line I-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the atomizer taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through an atom# izer tip illustrating a different embodiment of the invention and taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3; and

In the following description and injthe claims certain specific terms areused for-convenience in referring to various details -5 ,of the'. invention. 'Ihese terms, however, are to. begiven: as broad ari` interpretatonas the state of theart will pen mit.

conduit II andthe barrel I Il.

In the drawing, the invention is shown by'way of illustration as applied to an atomizer of the type which is adapted forv use as a liquid fuel burner. It is to be understood, however, that the atomizer may be used for fuel injection in internal combustion engines or forother purposes lwhere a variable capacity spray under. pressure is re quired or lit may be adapted to use withother uids such as gaseous fuels. f y

This atomizer is shown in Figs. land 2'as comprising a burner barrel I0 andan' inner'returnv fuel conduit II which is concentric therewithj's spaced therefrom toj provide an annularfuel supply space or conduit 20, and is mounted by suitable means, not shown, in a unitaryassembly. A plug I2 is mounted on the return fuel conduit 'II by meansof a sleeve I4 which extends rearwardly from said plug andmakes a close iitfwith theoutside of said return fu'elconduitguThebdyof the plug AI2 projects radially beyond l'saidfsleeve and is provided with a bevelled under vsurface I5 which engages a complementary `bevelled surface I6, on the end of the barrel II), thearrangement being such that the bevelled surfaces I5 and Iii assist in centering the plug I2 and the fuelpipe II within the barrel I0, i, Y

y The plug I2 terminates in aplane surface I1 and is provided with an annular row of axially extending fuel supply holes I9. communicating with the annular space 20 between the return fuel The plug I2v is also lprov-idedwith .af'central axially eiitending duct 2l forming a return passage to the fuel conduit II 'The vend ofthefuel conduit II may be bevelled as at v 2 2 to assistzthe ilow of return fluid therethrough. The duct2| ,4 may be provided with an axialyane v23, shownas extending Vdiametrically' acrossv the. duct 2| with its upper portion 24 below. the surface .I'lv of -the plug I2. The vane 23 divides the duct 2,I intoy two semi-cylindrical (passages, throughwhich. the 'return fluid passes to the conduit;v I I vand is designed to prevent rotational movement of thefiuid in such passages. f Y Q A up 25 is provided having a flat rear surface 26 registering with the vsurfacell of 'the plug I2 and making aiiuid tight seaitherewith; arid haiA ing a forward bevelled' surface :21 and:l an ndsurface 28 which is shown as plane, but may be oi' other form, such as conical, if desired.

The tip 2l is provided with an annular groove III registering with the annular-,row of holes Il in the plug I2 and with a cylindrical whirling chamber 33, the forward part Il of which i.; t'apered and` terminates in an orifice ll. A plurality of tangential passages l1 connect the annular groove 3l with the chamber Il These passages are adapted to introduce the fluid from the passages IS into the chamber 3l tangentlally so as to cause the fluid to whirl 1or rotate therein.

The tip 2i and plug I2 are secured by a cap Il which is threaded onto the barrel Il and is provided with a flange II having a bevelled under surface l2 which engages the bevelled surface 2'I of the tip l2l for centering and securing the same.

'I'he peripheral surfaces of the tip 25 and of the plug I2 have small clearances with the inner surface of the cap Il so that the tip maybe accurately centered by the cooperating bevelled surfaces of the tip and cap. The end surface 2l of the tip 2l projects beyond the forward surface of the flange II of the cap Il a sumcient distance so that an unobstructed ilow of atomiaed nuid is obtained from the orifice' Ill.

Operation IC the speed of rotation thereof is increased due v to the decrease in radius of the tapered part I4 of the chamber Il until the fluid passes through the orifice It and i.; released to form a cone-shaped atomized spray.

'Ihe amount of tluid thus released is controlled by regulating the return ow of iluid which passes through the central duct 2I into the return conduit II. This return conduit II leads to a control valve, not shown, by which the amount of luid withdrawn from the atomizermay be reguated.

Y It has been foundthat the rotational motion of the fluid within the chamber 32 is transferred to the column of fluid within the return conduit II, thereby extracting energy from the rotating iluid within the chamber 8i and otherwise decreasing the efllciency of operation. In accordance with the present invention, this is `overcome by providing the longitudinal vane 23 which extends diametrically across the central return duct2I and prevents any rotation of the fluid within the return conduit. In this way the vrotation of the return column of fluid is inter? rupted at its source and variations in the quantity of return fluid are prevented from altering the spray characteristics of the atomizer. The vane 23 may, of course, be somewhat curved in a direction to oppose the rotation of the duid as it passes through the duct 2| or a plurality of such vanes may be used. Such vanes may, for example, extend radially and diyide the duct 2| inte a plurality of segments.

In assemblying the atomizer it is only necessary to slide the sleeve I4v of the plug I2 over the fuel conduit II and then screw the cap III in place while holding the tip 2l against'the plug I2. The bevelled Isurfaces 21 and 52, and Il and I6, respectively, serve to accurately center the tip and plug. 'I'he device may'be disassembled in the same manner for cleaning. Obviously, the above named surfaces may be flat or of other forms instead of bevelled if desired. The forward surface 28 of the tip 25 projecting past the end of the cap l0 facilitates the separation of the parts in the event that they adhere and also avoids any interference with the free ilow of the atomized uld.

It is to be understood, of course, that the number of holes I9 in the plug I2 may be varied as desired. In certain instances the annular groove 30 may be omitted, in which event means,

such as dowel pins, or cooperating tongues and grooves, or the like may be provided for aligning the holes I8 withy the tangential passages Il. In certain instances it may be desirable to thread the sleeve Il onto the conduit II.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 shown in Figs. l and 2 and similar parts have been given the same reference characters in order to avoid the necessity for repeating the description. In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the plug I2 and the tip 2l are separated by a plate BII having an annular row of holes BI communicating with the annular groove I0 of the tip 25, and terminating in an annular groove II communicating with the holes I! of the plug I2. 'I'he surface of the plate III forms the rear wall of the whirling chamber 23. The plate l0 is provided with a central return duct 62 extending rearwardly from the whirling chamber 33 and .with tangential slots 8l cut into its lower surface and extending outwardly from the central duct 62 in the direction of rotation of the fluid in the whirling chamber so as to remove the fluid without reversal of flow, and terminating in an annular groove BB. 'I'he plugl I2 is provided with an annular row of return holes 63 communicating with the return conduit II and with the annular groove B8.

The plug I2 may carry a boss 81 having a curved upper surface 68 suited to direct the return fluid into the slots 64 with a minimum of turbulence.

The operation of the embodiment of Figs. 3, 4 and 5 is similar to that described above. In this embodiment the rotation of the' fluid in the return passage is broken up by the annular row of return holes 83 and the whirling chamber is provided with a flat, unbroken rear surface. The central return duct 82 communicates through the slots/84, groove 88 and holes 83 with the returnv conduit II so that any rotation of the fluid in the chamber 33 is interrupted in the holes Il before the fluid passes to'the conduit II. The

-slots 64 extend tangentlally in a direction to scoop up a controlled portion of the rotating fluid from the return duct 82. They may, however, extend radially r at any suitable angle to the radius of the duct 82, or may be joined to form a continuous enlarged chamber communicating with the holes 6I. If desired, the groove 68 may be formed in the plug I2 instead" of in the plate III.

Certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shown for purposes of illustration` It is to.r be understood, however, that the construction may take various other forms and that various other mechanical means inlay be proto a person skilled in the art. The invention is only to be limited in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. An atomizerrhaving a supply conduit and a return conduit and a tip having a whirling chamber terminating in an orifice through which fuel is discharged for atomization, means including inlet ducts supplying uld from said supply conproviding a smooth, unbroken, annular surfacel in contact with the whirling fiuid in said whirling chamber, and a vane in said duct positioned and directedto arrest the rotational movement of the iiuid as it passes therethrough, whereby the rotational movement of thefluid in said whirling chamber is prevented from being imparted to the f fluid in said return conduit.

duit to said whirlingA chamber and causing the n .fluid to rotate therein, said whirling chamber having a'rear wall provided with an axial unobstructed return opening of a smaller diameter than said whirling chamber and of a diameter at least as great as that of said orifice communicating with said return conduit, said rear wall providing a smooth, unbroken annular surface in contact with the whirling iiuid in said whirling chamber, and means between said opening and said return conduit to arrest the rotational movement of the fiuid flowing from said whirlingv chamber to said return conduit.

2. An atomizer having a supply conduit and a return conduit and a tip having a whirling chamber terminating in an orifice through which fuel is discharged for atomization, means including inlet ducts supplying `fluid from said supply conduit to said whirling chamber and causing the fluid to rotate therein, said whirling chamber having a rear wall provided with an unobstructed axial return opening of a smaller diameter than said whirling chamber and of va diameter at least as great as that of said orifice cornmunicating through an axial return duct with said return conduit, said rear wall providing a smooth, unbroken, annular surface in contact with the whirling fluid in said whirling chamber,

and means in said return duct to arrest the rotational movement. of the fluid flowing from said` whirling chamber to said return conduit. 3. An atomizer as set forth in claim 2 duct positioned and arranged to arrest the rotational movement of the fluid as it passes theren through.

4. An atomizer as set forth in claim 2 in which said last'means comprises an axial vane extending diametrically across said return duct,- said vane being positioned and arranged to arrest the rotational movement of the fluid as it passes therethrough.

5. An atomizer for a burner barrel having supply and'return conduits, comprising a plug adapted to be fitted to the end of fsaid barrel and toA said plate having an unobstructed axial return form an end closure for said conduits, a tip seated against said plug and having a whirling cham'- eter than said whirling chamber and of adiams. eter at least as great as that of said orifice communicating through an axial return duct with the return conduit in said barrel, said rear wall 6. An atomizer havingaa supply conduit and a return conduit and a tip having a whirling chamber terminating in an orifice through which fuel is discharged for atomization, means including inlet ducts supplying fluid from said supply conduit to said whirling chamber and causing the fluid to rotate therein, said whirling chamber having a rear wall provided with an unobstructed axial return opening of smaller diameter than said whirling chamber and of a diameter at least as great as that of said orifice, said rear wall providing a. smooth, unbroken, annular surface in contact with the whirling fluid in said whirling chamber, a set of return passages spaced from the axis of said whirling chamber positioned and directed to arrest the whirling motion of said fluid, and communicating with said return conduit, and a channel spaced beyond said rear wall supplying return fluid from said return opening to said set ofk return passages, whereby said fluid passes through said set of passages on its way to the return conduit.

7. An atomizer as set forth in claim 6 in which said channel comprises a set of tangential grooves communicating with said return opening and .with said set of return passages.

8. An atomizer as set forth in claim 6 in which said channel comprises a set of tangential grooves communicating with said return opening and with said set of return passages and extending in the direction of rotation of the fluid received from said whirling chamber so that the rotating fluid enters said tangential grooves without change in direction.

9. `An atomizer for a burner barrel having concentric, supply and return conduits, comprising a plug adapted to be fitted to the end of said barrel and to form an end closure for said con duits, saidV plug having an annular row of supply 'passages communicating with said supply conduit and an annular row of return passages communicating with v,said return conduit, a. plate mounted over said plug and a tip seated against said plate, said tip having(a whirling chamber therein terminating in an orifice from which fluid is discharged for atomization, and having inlet ducts communicating with said whirling chamn ber for supplying fluid thereto and causing said fluid ,to rotate therein, the surface of said plate forming the rear wall of said whirling chamber,

`passages being directed to arrest said whirling motion of said fluid. v

ERNEST H. PEABODY. 

